Headrest



Dec. 19, 1933. A. J. MAY 1,940,361

HEADREST Filed Dec. 29, 1928 Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATESjnnannns'r Adam J. May, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Ritter DentalManufacturingcompany, Inc., Rochester, N. Y.', a corporation of DelawareApplication December 29, 1928 Serial No.-329,293 1 2' Claims. (01.155-173) The present invention relates to head rests and has for itsobject to provide an improved head rest for use, for example, withdental, surgical and other type of chairs. Q

A further object of the invention is to provide for use with chairs ofdifferent classes improved pad means for receiving and supporting theoccupants head, comprising a simple construction of few parts designedto afford an eifective and economical support, capable of being easilyassembled and applied to the chair.

A further object of the invention is'to provide an improved unitary headreceiving pad comprising a yieldable element capable of accommodatingitself to the head of the patient and designed for ready and convenientinsertion upon and removable from a suitable support or holder carriedby the chair.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation illustrating one embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2a 2a of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a part sectional elevation showing the head pads slightlydeflected and conforming to the contour of the patients head, and

Fig. 4 is a somewhat similar view showing the pad in a more flattenedposition, as when accommodating itself to a head of larger proportionsthan that indicated by the dotted outline shown in Fig. 3.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

The present invention embodies an improved construction including a headpad or cushion for use with dental, surgical, and other types of chairs,which is constructed of yieldable material of a more or less solidnature, such for example, as a suitable grade of sponge-like rubber. Thepresent pad is, therefore, clearly differentiated from one of thepneumatic type into which air is pumped and maintained at the desiredpressure. Furthermore, the present pad is capable of being readilyattached to and removed from its holder without the use of any securingdevices therefor, as heretofore required for holding pads of this kindin position. The one piece construction of the pad and the fact that itis designed for quick attachment to a holder and for maintenance thereonthrough frictional enga'gement therewith, renders a pad of this kindhighly advantageous over the usual pneumatic or upholstered type of padcommonly in use.

Referring to the drawing 10 represents a frame" or bracket constructedin any suitable manner for attachment to the back of a chair, not shown.The bracket includes oppositely disposed arm like portions 11, on theouter ends of 'which are suitably secured bearing 'members 12 formingpivots for the opposite ends 13 of a support 14 carrying the pads 15 andarranged to swing about the axes of the bearing members 12. The pivotedsupport 14 is provided with upstanding post like members 16 carryingtransverse bearing portions 17, each of which is adapted to receive apivoted pin 18, the opposite ends of which project from the bearingportion, Fig. 2. A holder 19 is provided for supporting the pad 15, saidholder preferably comprising a dish-shaped member 19,.a portion of thebottom wall of which iscut away 'to afiordan opening 20 through which 7projects the bearing'portion 17 of the post 16, as indicated in Fig. 2.The holder is pivotally mounted on the ends of the pin 18, the axis ofwhich is preferably at right angles to the pivotal axis of the support14. The pin 18 is held in position by aset screw 21 threaded in thebearing 17, Fig. 2. The holder 19-15 disposed with- 35 in a pocket orrecess 22 of the pad surrounded by a Wall portion 23 projecting fromthebody of the pad at the rear side thereof. The holder within the pocketor recess is provided with a flange-like portion 24 engaging in a groove25 formed in the wall portion 23. As before stated, the pad is offlexible or yieldable material, such for example, as sponge-like rubber,and can,

therefore, be readily forced upon the annular or new pads substitutedwhen required. This may be done without the use of any tools or thepatients head to assume a position substantially as shown by full linesin Fig. 3, the normal position being indicated by the dotted lines 27 inthis figure. Where the head is of larger proportions, as indicated bythe dotted line 28, Fig. 4, it will, upon moving into engagement withthe pad, first engage only the peripheral flange or bead-like portion 29of the pad, and. this portion being of less thickness than the adjacentbody portion of the pad will yield more readily and somewhat in advanceof the latter, thus permitting the patients head to accommodate itselfto the pads, which under the pressure applied thereto will be flexedfrom the normal position indicated by the dotted lines 30 in Fig. 4 toapproximately the full line position shown in this figure where thefront or body portion of the pad is in spaced relation with respect tothe holder 19. The positions of the pads indicated in Figs. '3 and 4,have, of course, merely been approximated and will vary according to theshape and size of the patients head and the pressure applied to the padsas well. At any rate, the pad is sufficiently yieldable to afford thedesired cushioning effect under all conditions of usage to which it maybe subjected. I

While the pad is preferably constructed of a single section ofsponge-like rubber having sufficient elasticity to afford the desiredyieldability, it may be formed of any inherently yieldable material,either of one part or a plurality of parts united to form a unit whichwill function in the manner described. Furthermore, the position of theflange receiving groove formed in 'the pad maybe varied and the holderdesigned accordingly. For example, the groove may be provided in theouter part of the rearwardly projecting wall portion 23 of the padwithout departing from the scope or the invention as embodied in theclaims.

In certain cases the flange-like portion 29 of the pad maybe relied onas a cushioning means for the greater part of the weight of the patientshead, while in other cases both the flange-like and central portions ofthe pad will yield as indicated in Fig. 3. In other cases with heads oflarger proportions the pads will assume a more flattened position, asindicated in Fig. 4, where the pressure is more evenly distributed andthe deflection at the center of the pad less than that indicated in Fig.3. It will be seen, therefore, that the extent and particular area ofdeflection will depend to a large degree on the shape and size of thehead, but in any event the resilient pads will readily accommodatethemselves to the heads of different sizes and shapes, and will formefiective cushioning means for the purpose provided.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a headrest for dental chairs and the like, a pad formed of asection of rubber or rubber-like material comprising a body having ahead receiving portion at its front side and provided with a pocket inrear of said portion, said body having a groove formed in the wall ofthe pocket, a holding member for the pad having a recessed end Wall anda side wall projecting within the pocket and terminating in aflange-like portion extending within said groove, and a support for theholding member extending within the recessed end Wall thereof and havingopposite end portions pivotally receiving the holding member.

2. In a headrest for dentalchairs and the like, a pad formed of a singlesection of rubber or rubber-like materia comprising a body having a headreceiving portion at its front side and provided with a recess in therear of said portion, said body having an annular groove formed thereinand communicating with said recess in spaced relation with the bottom ofsaid recess, and a holder disposed Within the pad recess in spacedrelation with the bottom thereof and having an annular portionprojecting within said groove.

ADAM J MAY.

